The smell of bacon filled the air on East Main Street in downtown Lititz on a Friday night in June 2016, as pork on a stick sizzled beneath the blue flames of butane torches at the Rooster Street Butcher tent.
Tony Page and Chris Williamson crafted bacon pops that proved one of the most popular bites at the annual A Taste of Lititz, a benefit for the borough’s downtown revitalization organization.
A to Z of Lititz
Meanwhile, the crew from Roma Pizza simply stepped out their front door to serve steaming slices of pepperoni and cheese.
Attendees strolled among booths sampling treats from an A to Z of Lititz’s best, from A Tea Affair to Zest. The Zest team served up hearty scoops of paella, the Spanish rice dish, while other local restaurants and breweries poured and plated their own specialties, including craft beer.
The storms held off
Despite threatening skies, the event drew a big crowd.
“The storms held off, and I think everybody came out when they figured it wasn’t going to rain,” said Steve Muller, stirring a large kettle of kettle corn as the aroma of fresh-popped corn drew customers in droves.
“It’s been awesome, the busiest one yet,” said Muller, co-owner of Rabbit Hill Kettle Corn of Rothsville, at his third Taste. “We’re all about our hometown,” he said, explaining that the business takes its name from the original name of Rothsville.
“We love being here in Lititz, we love being a part of the community,” he said. Catering parties and special events is a big part of his business.
Fun for kids
Kids enjoyed games, activities and entertainment. One young bowler showed real skill by picking up a spare at a makeshift bowling alley on Cedar Street, where Record Express associate editor Steve Seeber served as pinsetter.
Balloon artist Andrew Imhoff of Majik Decorating twisted squeaky balloons into works of art and took special requests. When one boy asked for a custom wrecking ball, Imhoff was happy to oblige.
“You’re doing a great job!” another boy called out from the long line at the popular stand.
Music up and down Main Street
Music filled East Main Street through the evening, from duos singing soulful songs to rock bands playing up-tempo tunes.
Visitors also took turns tapping out a beat at a drum circle, a hands-on activity that let kids and grown-ups alike get into the act. Elsewhere, children enjoyed art activities, bean bag toss and more.
Supporting downtown
A Taste of Lititz raises money for the borough’s downtown revitalization organization, which works to keep downtown Lititz vibrant through events and promotion.
For local restaurants, the Taste is a chance to introduce their menus to thousands of potential customers in a single evening. For residents, it is one of the first big outdoor gatherings of summer.
A food town
Lititz has built a reputation as a destination for food, with restaurants, bakeries, a craft butcher, breweries, a distillery and chocolate and pretzel heritage all within a few blocks. Events like the Taste showcase that variety, and many visitors leave with a list of places to return to.
Tips for food festivals
- Come hungry, but pace yourself across the booths.
- Bring cash for quicker purchases.
- Arrive early for shorter lines.
- Bring the kids. Many activities are geared to families.
Plan your visit
East Main Street closes to traffic for the event, so visitors should plan to park nearby and walk. Many attendees make a full evening of it, lingering downtown after the booths close.
This article was originally published in June 2016.